A Union at a Reunion

Like many couples, Gloria Jensma and Pete Davis grew up in the same town, went to the same church and the same high school, and eventually married each other — only for them it happened to be 60 years later.

Jensma and Davis knew each other casually growing up but went on to find spouses and careers and many of life’s experiences, staying in touch the way they did with many of their 1956 Newton High School classmates. They both found themselves single in their 70s, and after some visits and living together at Davis’ family home in rural Newton and at Jensma’s home in Port Hueneme, Calif., near Ventura, the two simply decided to get married.

Jensma’s husband died in 2009, and Davis is divorced.

“It was all so unexpected,” Jensma said. “It was so unplanned. We just started spending more time together. We didn’t even plan on getting married.”

Davis was raised on a family farm northwest of Newton, while Jensma was raised in town. That made a difference during World War II safety protocols, but since they were both raised by families with Dutch heritage and went to the same church and the same high school — they both left Newton with a lot in common.

Davis’s career with engineering design group HDR, Inc., and other firms took him to several cities in the Midwest, including Omaha and Kansas City, while Jensma lived most of her adult life in southern California. That’s where she was living when she got to know Davis better, as he bought the family house and returned to the farm in Newton after he retired in 2002.

Jensma, known as Gloria Tracy in the knitting and crocheting world, has authored several how-to books and has patterns for sale with both the Hobby Lobby and Walmart chains. She has also created a number of re-purposed art projects.

“Some of the commissions are lucrative, but not always,” Jensma said. “One of my recent commission checks was for only $8.56.”

Davis has four children, while Jensma has three. They spend about half the year at the 80-acre farm where Davis grew up, and the other half in the senior-community condominium in California. Davis enjoys duck hunting, with the season typically ending in November, so the couple usually stays in Newton during that time.

The couple got married in Carefree, Ariz., northeast of Phoenix, and their honeymoon involved a trip to the Grand Canyon. They had two wedding songs: Davis’ song was Willie Nelson’s “It Always Will Be;” for Jensma, it was Etta James’ “At Last.”

The couple came to Newton this June to celebrate both their marriage and the 60th reunion of the NHS Class of 1956. The class has had several well-attended reunions and has kept in touch with one another; 97 of the 210 members have passed away, but many are healthy and active and have much success and abundance in life.

Several, like Jensma, are published authors.

Jensma said another aspect that made this stay in Newton enjoyable was how well things went for the NHS Class of 1956.

“Our classmates seem to look so relaxed and happy,” Jensma said. “We’re all in our late 70s now. A lot of the ‘cliqueiness’ seems to be gone.”

This particular trip to Newton didn’t involve much sitting around. Not only has the couple hosted several family get-togethers involving out-of-town guests in their monthlong stay on the farm, Davis is also working on a major porch addition on the family farmhouse.

“Pete can do anything,” Jensma said. “That’s what you get with an old Iowa farmboy. Mechanical, electrical, sanding, finishing, kitchen stuff, plumbing, woodworking — those guys didn’t have contractors to do it for them. They learned those skills at home.”

Davis has plenty to do on the farm as well. Though the couple is extremely grateful for not having to deal with too much of the intensive farming of the corn and soybeans on site (that’s handled by Ron and Dan Ritter), it still takes some work to keep up the house, yard and farm buildings, and Jensma still exercises regularly.

“I don’t feel like I’m in my 70s,” Davis said, smiling.

Jensma and Davis both have their eyes light up when mentioning family.

While family members were happy to see the couple finally get married after several years together, everyone has mostly been supportive all along, Jensma said.

“Most of them just want to see us happy,” she said.

The couple plans to continue living out their most American of love stories in both Newton and in California.

“I’m nuts about him,” Jensma said. “We knew from a trip to Kansas City a few years ago (as Jensma competed in a distance-running event) we could stand each other 24-7.”

Davis seems to feel the same way.

“She’s a great gal,” he said. “She puts up with my duck hunting.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com